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Your Observer

    By
  • Josh Siegel
  • December 21, 2012
East County schools earn top marks

Three Manatee County District high schools earned A grades for the 2011-2012 school year, including Braden River High School and Lakewood Ranch High School, according to High School Accountability Grades released today by the Department of Education.

  • East County
  • News
Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta in a recent email compared staff action on an impact fee update with issues on the Siesta Key public beach improvements.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 21, 2012
Error delays impact fee update

Sarasota County staff blames a spreadsheet error for inaccurate road impact fees presented to Sarasota County commissioners Dec. 4.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Eddie Kirsch
  • December 20, 2012
Dec. 20: Daily Headlines Video

Today's Stories: Plane crash leaves pilot unscathed; Main Street building under contract; Marina Towers residents want event moved; Hunters kill 39 hogs in pilot hunt

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The plane was pulled out of the water with the help of Sea Tow, The Sarasota Police and Beach Patrol.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • December 20, 2012
Plane crash leaves pilot unscathed

The plane lost power at about 1,000 feet; the pilot walked away from the crash.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 20, 2012
Brown buys on Siesta Key Village property

Siesta Key property owner Chris Brown bought 5214 Ocean Blvd. for $1.35 million.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 20, 2012
BRSC to hold Holiday Camp

The Braden River Soccer Club will host the Kai O. Haaskivi Soccer Academy 2012 Holiday Camp from 9-11 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. Dec. 27 and 9-11 a.m. Dec. 28-30.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 20, 2012
Sailors outlast Mustangs

The Sarasota High wrestling team defeated Lakewood Ranch 43-36 in a dual match Dec. 12.

  • East County
  • News
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 20, 2012
St. Stephen's ranked No. 1 in Class 2A Academic Team Champion standings

St. Stephen's is currently ranked No. 1 in the Florida High School Athletic Association's Class 2A Academic Team Champion standings after the fall season.

  • East County
  • Sports
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 20, 2012
Lady Pirates win back-to-back games

The Braden River High girls basketball team improved to 10-3 with victories over North Port and rival Lakewood Ranch this week.

  • East County
  • Sports
Opponents of the Deer Prairie Creek Preserve hog hunt brought signs to a July 10 Sarasota County Commission meeting.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 20, 2012
Hunters kill 39 hogs in pilot hunt

The Southwest Florida Water Management District permitted hunt was aimed at removing the destructive invasive species.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • December 20, 2012
Both sides debate downtown noise regulations

DSCA president calls for a "charette" workshop to have a conversation on the topic.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota High School’s Ian Grubb, No. 19, breaks away from a group of Sarasota Military Academy players Wednesday, Dec. 19, at Sarasota High School.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 20, 2012
PHOTO GALLERY: SHS v. SMA boys and girls soccer

Sarasota High School hosted Sarasota Military Academy for both boys and girls varsity soccer games Wednesday, Dec. 20, at Sarasota High School. The night was extra special for the Sarasota High School seniors who were honored during Senior Night in between the boys and girls games. The Sailors were victorious in both games with the girls beating the Eagles 2-0 and the boys crushing their opponents 8-0.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
A fire following Superstorm Sandy destroyed Siesta resident Helene Hyland’s childhood home in New York. Courtesy photo.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 20, 2012
Resident faces storm aftermath

Superstorm Sandy dealt an emotional blow to island residents.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office placed a digital speed limit sign on Midnight Pass Road in September. File photo.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 20, 2012
FDOT considers future of Midnight Pass Road

Sarasota County is in talks with The Florida Department of Transportation about handling maintenance of the road.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 20, 2012
Firm petitions to build on lots

Some residents at Terrace East condominiums didn't receive notice of the coastal variance request public hearing for two four-story homes on Beach Road.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 20, 2012
Board sets BP settlement priorities

Sarasota County commissioners ranked a $9 million Siesta Key project fourth out of 28 projects to be submitted for federal funding from the Deepwater Horizon penalties.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 20, 2012
Ants threaten shorebird habitat

Two Siesta Key Association members have asked Sarasota County to allow the use of pesticides on protected dunes.

  • Siesta Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 20, 2012
News Briefs

Siesta Key trolley decision delayed; County seeks damages for Village light pole; Three Siesta bars violate noise ordinance

  • Siesta Key
  • News
Siesta Dunes won the annual Siesta Key Condominium Association Condo Lighting Contest.
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 20, 2012
Siesta Dunes scorches competition in lighting contest

Siesta Dunes condominium complex defended its title as the category 1 (101 units or greater) winner of the 2012 Siesta Key Condo Council Lighting Contest Dec. 18.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Erich Bartels of Mote Marine Laboratory places nursery-grown coral fragments at an outplant site offshore of Big Pine Key. Photos courtesy of Tum Calver.
  • By Dr. Kumar Mahadevan
  • December 20, 2012
My View: Take a closer look: Mote Marine's studies on Florida's coral habitat

Florida has the only barrier coral reef system in the continental U.S. It's like having the Grand Canyon underwater - a natural treasure that took millions of years to form and deserves our protection.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 20, 2012
Cops Corner: Pelican Press

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Judi Moore, who runs the Siesta Key lost pet hotline, with Sophie, Reckless and Yogi. Courtesy
    By
  • Alex Mahadevan
  • December 20, 2012
Moore starts lost-pet network

Judi Moore advertises a link to her personal cell phone as the Siesta Key lost pet hotline.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Downtown entrepreneur Jesse Biter is working on a deal to purchase up to 10 storefronts on mid-Main Street.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • December 20, 2012
Main Street building under contract

The sale would encompass two buildings for a total of 200 feet of storefront space on Main Street. It would be the third major downtown investment for entrepreneur Jesse Biter in two years.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The project to ensure cleaner stormwater runoff could begin as early as this spring or summer and would take nine months to complete. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • December 20, 2012
$1 million project to filter polluted runoff

Modular wetlands and bioswales throughout the watershed are designed to filter stormwater into Hudson Bayou.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Thirty thousand event-goers attended Thunder by the Bay last year. File photo.
    By
  • Roger Drouin
  • December 20, 2012
Petition opposes event location

Some residents say they want the upcoming Thunder by the Bay event moved to another location.

  • Sarasota
  • News
MTO's newest mural, painted on the wall of Sarasota Fight and Fitness Club, depicts Sarasota Chalk Festival founder Denise Kowal as a boxer.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • December 20, 2012
Street artist, MTO, reveals new mural

School Avenue's Sarasota Fight and Fitness Club is the home of MTO's newest mural.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This home at 4401 Mangrove Place has four bedrooms, five-and-a-half-baths, a pool and 4,734 square feet of living area. It sold for $3,395,000. Photo by Rachel S. O'Hara.
    By
  • Adam Hughes
  • December 20, 2012
Home in South Cocoanut Bayou sells for $3,395,000

A home in South Cocoanut Bayou tops all transactions in this week's real estate. Michael McNelis and Elizabeth McNelis sold their home at 4401 Mangrove Place to Todd and Kathleen Pulvino, of Westport, Conn., for $3,395,000.

  • Sarasota
  • Real Estate
Sue Weber-Hegge submitted this sunset photo, taken on Siesta Key Beach.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 20, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Sue Weber-Hegge submitted this sunset photo, taken on Siesta Key Beach.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Jeannine Lehman submitted this photo of an approaching evening storm.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 20, 2012
Cool Today Weather Photo Contest Winner

Jeannine Lehman submitted this photo of an approaching evening storm.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Owen Comora points out a bird flying into the brush by the water.
    By
  • Rachel S. OHara
  • December 20, 2012
Birds in Paradise

The Celery Fields' newest program attracts bird lovers.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Anyone interested in donating to Aidan Pearson’s toy drive can bring an unwrapped gift to the NewGate office, located at 5237Ashton Road.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • December 20, 2012
New Gate student spreads joy

Ten-year-old Aidan Pearson is collecting toys at his school to donate to patients at All Children's Hospital, in St. Petersburg.

  • Sarasota
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 20, 2012
News Briefs

DID board member resigns due to travel; Tony Souza elected chairman of the DSA; Sarasota holiday service impacts

  • Sarasota
  • News
Arjun Byju on the set of "Jeopardy!" with his younger brother, Aravind.
    By
  • Nick Friedman
  • December 20, 2012
Pine View student to appear on "Jeopardy! Teen Tournament"

Arjun Byju was selected out of a pool of 15,000 applicants to compete on the show.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Read this week's Cops Corner.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 20, 2012
Cops Corner: Sarasota

Enjoy this week's edition of Cops Corner.

  • Sarasota
  • Cops Corner
Cardinal Mooney High sophomore Antonio Blakeney has two goals this season: to haul in at least 10 rebounds in every game and to help the Cougars earn a trip to the Lakeland Center — the site of the Class 3A Final Four.
    By
  • Jen Blanco
  • December 20, 2012
ONE STEP AHEAD: Antonio Blakeney

Cardinal Mooney High sophomore Antonio Blakeney is averaging 31.8 points, nine rebounds and 2.4 assists, while helping lead the Cougars to an impressive 6-0 start.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • December 20, 2012
SIDELINES

Cougars tame Pirates; Riverview Rams edge by Manatee Hurricanes; Lady Blazers top Lady Panthers; Sarasota Christian rallies past Cardinal Mooney; Four Sailors place at Graves Tournament

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
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